Auditory insert



APYEIH H932- M. B. A. SCH-HER L852J3 AUDITORY INSERT Filed Nov. 10, 1950 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l l N VENTOR.

. I ()ATTORNY.

April 5, 1932. M. B. A SCHIER AUDITORY INSERT Filed Nov. 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR. Mayer $11. jchz'er ATTORNEY.

the invention consists of a device of this- Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES MAYER B. A. SGHIEIB, NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUDITOR! INSEBH.

Application filed November 10, 1980. Serial No. 494,731.

This invention relates to devices to strengthen the hearing of persons sufiermg from certain abnormal otic conditions involvin%partial deafness.

ertain apparatus known as an earphone has been used for this purpose and such apparatus includes a small fiat cylindrical casing containing certain apparatus, with which the present invention is in no way concerned, and certain means for holding this casing in POSI- tion relative to the external ear.

Various means have been heretofore used to hold the casing in position. For instance a springclip such as is used to hold telephone ear pieces has been used for holding the earphone. Attempts have. also been made to hold such earphone in position by means of attachments engaging the external ear and these last, while free from the objectionable conspicuousness of headbands and the like, have not heretofore taken into sufiicient consideration of stresses caused by different positions and movements of the head.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means for supporting an earphone or the like wherein PIOVlSlOIl is made for the engagement of such parts of the external ear as will cause the earphone to be securely supported in all positions of the head and during all movements of the head no matter in what direction nor how violent such movements may be. In order to effect this object the present invention is arranged to afford four points of contact with.

roper parts of the outer ear, these points being arranged as at the trihedral angles of a tetragon so that, no matter how the head is held or moved, there will always be three basal points of rest and an apical point of contact acting tohold the basal points in contact with the proper places on the external car.

With the above and other objects in view character having a novel shape arranged to effect an improved engagement with proper parts of the external car.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and

Figure 1 is a view looking directly at an external ear and showing the earphone support in position.

Figure 2 is a similar View but showing the earphone in position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the ciilmplete holding device or insert and the earp one. a

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but taken from the bottom.

Figure 5 is an anterior elevation of the complete device.

Figure 6 is a view looking at the inner side or face of the device.

Figure 7 discloses a group of diagrams to illustrate the reactions obtained in various postions and movements of the head.

In the present disclosure of the invention reference will be had to the several parts of the external ear, and in the car as shown, the external auditory meatus is not' illustrated but lies, of course, beneath and partially behind the tragus 10. Below and behind the tragusis the antitragus 11, the tragus and antitragus forming two substantially opposed stifi' flaps of flesh having the incisura intertragica 12 between their adjacent ends.

Surrounding the meatus is the cavum conchae 13 which terminates at its upper rear side in the cymba conchae 14. At the anterior end the cymba conchae is overlapped by the crus 16 of the helix 17 and at its posterior portion the cymba conchae is overlapped by the antihelix crura 18. Thus pockets are formed at the points 10, 11 and 18 which open towards the central portion of the cavum conchae.

The main or body portion 19 of the insert is of tapering formation being relatively large and substantially ovate in cross section at its outer end and considerably smaller at its inner end where it is of nearly circular cross section so as to fit the external meatus. This body 19 terminates inwardly in a rearwardly extending end 20. Fitted securely in the outer end of the body 10 is a metallic tube 21 threaded interiorly to receive the threaded tube or nipple 22 of the earphone 23. An opening 24 leads from the tube through the body to open into the meatus. Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the outer end of the body is an arm 25 terminating in an inwardly offset substantially pear shaped head 26 engageable beneath the crusura of the antihelix as in Figure 1. Extending downwardly and forwardly from the body is a rib 27 formed to fit the cavum conchae and the interseptus intertragica. Extending downwardly and rearwardly from the outer part of the body is an arm 28 formed at its end to engage beneath the posterior portion of the anti-tragus.

Now the body 19 extends behind the tragus and the end 20 engages in the inner portion of the meatus. Also the tip 29 of the head 26 engages beneath the crus of the helix.

In Figure 7 these engaging points are indicated in diagram by points having the same numerals but distinguished by the addition of a prime thus, 26; 29; 19'; 27'; 28"; and 20'. In the diagrams A illustrates the supporting action when the head is turned upward or over, B the action when the head is turned downwardly, C the action when the head is turned obliquely upward and backward, D the action when the head is turned upward and forward, E the action when the head is turned on a vertical axis behind the ear and F the action when the head is, turned on a vertical axis in front of the ear. In each case the main supporting points are indicated at the ends of full lines and there are thus always at least four such main points at the trihedral angles of a tetragon. The points at the ends of dotted lines indicate auxiliary supporting points which prevent rotation of the device on the axis of its body relative to the ear.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an efficient and simple insert for holding a receiver to the ear. The device can fit a largnumber of ear sizes due to the fact that the insert does not fill up the entire cavity of the ear but contacts with the ear in several points.

Thus the car can readily give or conform to the size of the contact points more readily than if the insert filled up the entire ear. If

the entire ear were filled up it would be necessary to make an insert to fit each particular ear as the entire cavity of the ear would stretch when an insert is applied which might be a little tight and besides would cause pain and unpleasantness. With the debody member having three radiating arms adapted to be wedged in the ear for preventing any outward displacementof the insert,

and two radiating armsfitting in the ear v and adapted to prevent any rotation of the insert in relation to the ear, and means to attach a receiver to the said insert.

3. In a device of the class described, a

'body member having a series of radiating arms adapted to bear in an ear, two of said arms adapted to prevent rotation of the insert and three of said arms adapted to prevent outward displacement from the ear, a tubular extension extending in the canal of the ear, and a threaded hollow sleeve passing through said extension and body member for attaching thereto a receiver.

4. The combination of a receiver and an ear insert, of a threaded tube at the inner end of said receiver, a sleeve passing through said insert, said threaded tube adapted to fit in said sleeve, said receiver having two radiating arms bearing in the ear and which prevent rotation of the insert, and another set of three radiating arms which prevent the insert from being outwardly displaced of the ear.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

- MAYER B. A. SCHIER.

vice as described it is not necessary to make an insert t order but a few stock sizes would be suflicient to fit ractically any size ear.

Also the insert 1s self-ventilating and permits the radiation of the ear tem erature.

Another important. feature 0 this invention is that the insert can very easily be applied. The device is inserted 1n the ear with a screw like motion and once in the ear will staiyI there until manually removed.

aving described my invention, I claim,

1. In an insert for an ear comprising a body member having a series of arms bearing 

